A corporate colleague of mine asked for coaching to get ready to interview for a mid-level management position. As we talked, we explored the gains and losses the new position might bring to him and to his lifestyle. Losses? he asked. What in the world could be a loss? This was a great opportunity to earn a higher salary, a nice big bonus, a company car, and all kinds of accessories.
Who wouldn’t want this spot?!
It was easy to talk about the great things the extra money could do for him and his family, the bills he could pay, the car he would buy.
I posed the question again – this time a little differently. I asked instead, “when you dream about reaching that next level of your career, what is your lifestyle like?”. I sat silently until he answered the question. His first response was that he never thought about it, but shortly he began to talk about things like missing his son’s ball games, answering business calls at the dinner table, taking no time off for vacation.
Next, I asked him to create a list of things he could accept and things he would not compromise to reach the next level. You see, this allowed him an opportunity to be clear on the vision he really wanted to create while staying true to his most important values – for example, spending quality time with his loved ones.
My colleague sincerely wanted the job he was going for. Once he saw a 3-d view of what his future could look like, it gave him a chance to reframe to what he really wanted. We could then get crystal clear about questions he would ask in the interview, time boundaries he might set once he was in the position, results he knew he wanted for both the company and himself.
I think it’s great to climb the corporate ladder. It can be a win-win for everyone involved. Just remember to be clear on what your answer is:
What total lifestyle do you want to create by getting the promotion of your dreams?
It might be the question that launches you forward, or makes you take a step back. Either way, consider your answer well and make sure the values of the company/team align with your own for ultimate career satisfaction.
About the Author: Tanya Smith of Be Promotable.com helps ambitious working professionals get the promotion of their dreams. To grab a spot in her upcoming FREE teleseminar, “The Promotion Formula,” stop by and visit http://www.thepromotionformula.com/.
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